Nantes have appealed to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an attempt to overturn a one-year transfer embargo imposed by FIFA over the transfer of forward Ismael Bangoura from Dubai-based club Al Nasr.

Ismael Bangoura played only six games for Nantes before being loaned out

On top of the transfer embargo, which was announced earlier this month, FIFA ordered Nantes to pay Al Nasr $6.1 million compensation for inciting the player to break his contract in January 2012. For his part, the Guinea international was suspended for four months, three of which have been served.

Nantes and Bangoura have lodged an appeal against the decision, while Al Nasr have launched a separate appeal requesting that the sanctions be made more severe.

In a statement, CAS said: “The French club and the player consider that the breach of contract with Al Nasr Sports Club was justified and that the sanctions should be lifted. Al Nasr Sports Club also appealed to the CAS to request that the transfer indemnity be increased and the sanctions more severe.”

The court added that the verdicts are expected in “around four months”.

The French club are currently second in Ligue 2 and are concerned that, if promoted, they will be unable to strengthen their squad.

Nantes claimed that Al Nasr had stopped paying Bangoura’s salary and deregistered him from the club before he moved to the Stade de la Beaujoire.

The 28-year-old forward played only six games for Nantes before being loaned to Qatari club Umm Salal in September.